Dubai Desert Safari with Kids – Family Planning & Safety Guide

Yes, you can take kids on a Dubai desert safari – and they usually love it. The key is choosing the right tour and pacing the day for small legs and early bedtimes.

Age limits and child policies

Every operator sets their own rules, but typical guidelines are:

• Dune bashing: often 6 years and above.
• Quad bikes: usually 16+ to drive full-size quads.
• Camel rides: young children can ride with an adult, subject to weight limits.

Ask directly:

• Minimum age for dune bashing.
• Whether they offer soft driving or can skip dunes entirely for your family.

Choosing the right type of safari for families

Better options include:

• Shorter evening safaris with earlier return times.
• Morning safaris that finish before nap time.
• Private 4x4 tours where you control the schedule.

Avoid:

• Super late-night shows if your kids cannot stay awake.
• The cheapest mass tours with overcrowded camps.

Packing list for families

• Light jackets for cooler winter evenings.
• Extra water and child-friendly snacks.
• Wet wipes and hand sanitiser.
• Small toys or colouring books for quiet moments at camp.
• A change of clothes in case of spills or sand accidents.

Food and picky eaters

Most camp buffets offer:

• Simple rice and pasta.
• Grilled chicken and fries.
• Basic salads and bread.

If you have serious allergies, notify the operator in advance and consider bringing safe backup snacks.

Managing energy levels and naps

• Let children nap earlier in the day if possible.
• Bring a small travel pillow so they can sleep in the car on the way back.
• Do not feel obliged to stay for every second of every show – you can ask your driver to leave as soon as your family is ready.

Safety basics to explain to kids

• Always stay close to the adults in your group.
• Do not run behind moving vehicles or near the edge of tall dunes.
• Listen to guides and handlers around camels and quad bikes.

Turn it into a simple desert safety game: ask kids to spot safe walking areas and praise good behaviour.

Final thoughts

A desert safari can be the highlight of a family trip to Dubai. Choose family-friendly operators, keep expectations realistic, and build in room for tired moments – the result is a memory of stars, sand and shared laughter that parents and children will talk about for years.